Headlight beam selector switch



Dec 22, 1959 w. T. JOHNSTON HEADLIGHT BEAM SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Nov. 4,1957 INVENTOR o ,o `2,9`1's,604 y t .-HEAnLrGHTfEAM SELECTOR SWITCHTplolmston, Dawson, ilowa, assignor` of one-half t L o to Evelyn Dew,Flint, Mich.

Application Ndveiber 4, 1957, serial No. 694,286

7 claims. (ci. 315-82) headlight high beam can be blinding. It is alsodangerous to endure the headlight high beam of an oncoming vehiclewhenthe driver has forgotten to switch to his headlight low beam.

It is a` primary object of this invention to provide a means ofreminding an oncoming driver to switch to his headlight low beam withoutilashing the full intensity of the headlight high beam into his eyes.

`It is also an object of this invention to provide a means of remindingan oncoming driver to switch to his headlight low beam withoutdisturbing the present method of headlight beam selection.

A feature of this invention is that it would work equally well withvehicles equipped with separately sealed high and low beam headlights aswell as those vehicles having them combined.

',Another feature of this invention is that the signal can be givenwithin the same travel and by the same member of the present headlightbeam selector switch mechanism.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in lightof the accompanying drawing and later description. o

Figure 1 shows a front View of the headlight beam selector switch with aportion of the cover removed to show the parts added vto the usualheadlight beam selector switch mechanism.

Figure 2 shows a side view depicting the reciprocating arm` that allowsthe points to make and break.

Figure 3 shows an electrical circuit of the headlights and the headlightbeam selector switch.

Referring now to Figure 1, 21 is the body shell of the headlight beamselector switch mechanism. The drivers footmakes contact with surface 19causing arm 18 to lower, compressing spring 20. It should be understoodthat the full travel of arm 18 causes lthe usual headlight beam selectorswitching action to take place. This switching action allows current toflow from the positive terminal 1 to either the low beam terminal 2 orto the high beam terminal 3. The full downward stroke of the reciprocalactuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from an initialposition across terminals 1 and 2 to a position across terminals 1 and3, the spring 20 returning the reciprocal actuating arm upward as soonas the drivers foot is released. No switching action occurs from oneheadlight beam to the other on the returning upward stroke of thereciprocal actuating arm. A successive downward stroke of the reciprocalactuating arm shifts the usual rotating contact member from the positionacross terminals 1 and 3 to the initial position across terminals 1 and2, thus alternating high and low Patented Dec. 22, 195,9

ICC

'beam contact with each full downward stroke of the reciprocal actuatingarm. It should be understood that by 4depressing' the reciprocalactuating arm. a quarter of a stroke and releasing it to return upwarddoes not cause a switching action from one headlight beam to the otherto occur. However, depressing the reciprocal actuating arm a quarter ofa stroke allows the flat spring 10` to close contacts 6 and 7, and whenthe reciprocal actuating arm is released to return upward the contacts 6and 7 are opened.

Figure 1 also shows the switch mechanism that closes contacts 6 and 7during the first quarter of downward travel of the arm 18. The arm 18 isbent at a right angle to form the stub shaft 13. An insulating sleeve 8is pressed on the stub shaft 13. The depressed position of insulatingsleeve 8 is shown at 9. The contact 6 is attached to a iiat spring 10which is mounted on the insulating block 5 by screw 11. Screw 11 alsoholds the terminal of wire 12 which is attached to resistor 4 andcontinues to the headlight high beam terminal 3. Screws `15 and 16 holdthe insulating block 5 in place. Wire 14 is attached to the positiveterminal 1 and also to the contact 7 by screw 17.

` Figure 3 shows the electrical circuit in which 23 is the headlight lowbeam filament, and '24 is the headlight high beam filament. The switchZ6 coupled with the resistor 2S allows the driver to signal with anintermittent weak glow of the high beam. The headlight beam selectorswitch is 27. The usual components are the ground 22, battery 29, andthe headlight dash switch 28.

In operation, should a vehicle approach a driver at night with theheadlights apparently on the high beam, the driver may signal bypartially depressing the headlight beam selector switch. In addition tothe usual low beam, this will allow a weak high beam to shine in theeyes of the oncoming vehicles driver, courteously and safely remindinghim to switch to his low beam.

From the foregoing drawings and description, it is believed that a clearunderstanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of theinvention may be gained.

It is to be understood, however, that though there is shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as described and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric switch having a current source terminal, a plurality ofterminals adapted for selective connection in series with the currentsource terminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the currentsource terminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact andconnected in series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series toone of the plurality of terminals, and means to open and close thecontacts.

2. An electric switch having three terminals; a headlight high beamterminal, a headlight low beam terminal, and a battery terminal, meansto selectively connect the battery terminal in series with each beamterminal, and a fixed contact connected in series to the batteryterminal, a movable contact adjacent to the fixed contact and connectedin series to a resistor, the resistor connected in series to theheadlight high beam terminal, and means t0 open and close the contacts.

3. A lighting system for a vehicle, comprising; a headlight beamselector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface foractuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selectionintermediate the ends, said arm having means on the other end to holdtwo contacts apart when the arm is at one end of travel, and means toclose the two contacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end oftravel, the

closed contacts completing a circuit between the battery, a resistor,and the headlights.

4. A signalling device for a vehicle, comprising; a battery, headlights,and a headlight beam Selector switch having a plurality of terminals,including va headlight high beam terminal, a headlight low beamterminal, and a battery terminal, means to selectively connect thebattery terminal in series with each beam terminal, and a xed contactconnected in series with'the battery terminal, a movable contactadjacent to the fixed contact and connected in series with a resistor,the resistor connected in series with the headlight high beam terminal,and means to open and close the contacts.

5. A signalling arrangement for a vehicle, including; an electric switchhaving a reciprocal arm, said, arm

vhaving a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provisionfor beam selection intermediate the ends, said arm having means on theother end to hold two contacts apart when the arm is at one end oftravel, and means to close the two contacts when the arm is` movedtoward the opposite end of travel, the two contacts connected in serieswith a resistor, the headlights, and the battery.

6. A signalling arrangement for a vehicle, comprising; a headlight beamselector switch having a reciprocal arm, said arm having a surface foractuation on one end, said arm having provision for beam selectionintermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formed at a rightangle to the direction of travel on the other end, an insulating sleevepositioned on said shaft to hold two contacts apart when the arm is atone end of travel, a

spring attached to one of thecontacts and adapted to close the contactswhen the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, the contactsconnected in series with a resistor, the battery, and the headlights.

7. A headlight beam selector switch having aireciprocal arm, said armhaving a surface for actuation on one end, said arm having provision forbeam selectionintermediate the ends, said arm having a stub shaft formedat avright angle to the direction of'travel on ythe other end, aninsulating sleeve positioned on ysaid shaft to hold two contacts apartwhen the'arm is at one end of travel,

a spring attached to one of the contacts and adapted to close thecontacts when the arm is moved toward the opposite end of travel, thecontacts connected in series with a resistor, the headlights, and thebattery.

y529.952R4 France ---..V. Nov. 21.1921

